Bell's Teacher Contract Bill Advances

RICHMOND —A bill that would end continuing contracts for teachers — hotly contested by their union, but a keystone of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell's education reform package — made it over a critical hurdle Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, R-Staunton, was reported out of the state Senate's Education Committee on an 8-7 vote. It moves to the Senate, and has already been approved by the House.

It states teachers hired in the future would have a five-year probationary period, instead of three years. After that, they'd be limited to contracts with three-year terms.